1 2 THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION 3 _________________________________________________________________ 4 5 (See Note 1) 6 7 We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect 8 Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the 9 common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings 10 of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish 11 this Constitution for the United States of America. 12 13Article. I. 14 15 Section 1. 16 17 All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of 18 the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of 19 Representatives. 20 21 Section. 2. 22 23 Clause 1: The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members 24 chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the 25 Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for 26 Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature. 27 28 Clause 2: No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have 29 attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a 30 Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an 31 Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen. 32 33 Clause 3: Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among 34 the several States which may be included within this Union, according 35 to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to 36 the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for 37 a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all 38 other Persons. (See Note 2) The actual Enumeration shall be made 39 within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the 40 United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such 41 Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Representatives 42 shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall 43 have at Least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be 44 made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse three, 45 Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one, 46 Connecticut five, New-York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, 47 Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South 48 Carolina five, and Georgia three. 49 50 Clause 4: When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, 51 the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill 52 such Vacancies. 53 54 Clause 5: The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and 55 other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment. 56 57 Section. 3. 58 59 Clause 1: The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two 60 Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, (See Note 61 3) for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote. 62 63 Clause 2: Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of 64 the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into 65 three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be 66 vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at 67 the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the 68 Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every 69 second Year; and if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, 70 during the Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive 71 thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the 72 Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies. (See Note 4) 73 74 Clause 3: No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to 75 the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United 76 States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that 77 State for which he shall be chosen. 78 79 Clause 4: The Vice President of the United States shall be President 80 of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided. 81 82 Clause 5: The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a 83 President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice President, or when 84 he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States. 85 86 Clause 6: The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all 87 Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or 88 Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the 89 Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without 90 the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present. 91 92 Clause 7: Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further 93 than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy 94 any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the 95 Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to 96 Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law. 97 98 Section. 4. 99 100 Clause 1: The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for 101 Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the 102 Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or 103 alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators. 104 105 Clause 2: The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and 106 such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, (See Note 5) 107 unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day. 108 109 Section. 5. 110 111 Clause 1: Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and 112 Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall 113 constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller Number may adjourn 114 from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of 115 absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House 116 may provide. 117 118 Clause 2: Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, 119 punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence 120 of two thirds, expel a Member. 121 122 Clause 3: Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from 123 time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their 124 Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of 125 either House on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of 126 those Present, be entered on the Journal. 127 128 Clause 4: Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, 129 without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, 130 nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be 131 sitting. 132 133 Section. 6. 134 135 Clause 1: The Senators and Representatives shall receive a 136 Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid 137 out of the Treasury of the United States. (See Note 6) They shall in 138 all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, 139 beprivileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of 140 their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; 141 and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be 142 questioned in any other Place. 143 144 Clause 2: No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for 145 which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the 146 Authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the 147 Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during such time; and no 148 Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member 149 of either House during his Continuance in Office. 150 151 Section. 7. 152 153 Clause 1: All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House 154 of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with 155 Amendments as on other Bills. 156 157 Clause 2: Every Bill which shall have passed the House of 158 Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be 159 presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he 160 shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to 161 that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the 162 Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If 163 after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to 164 pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the 165 other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if 166 approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in 167 all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas 168 and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill 169 shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any 170 Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays 171 excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be 172 a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by 173 their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a 174 Law. 175 176 Clause 3: Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of 177 the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a 178 question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the 179 United States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be 180 approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two 181 thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the 182 Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill. 183 184 Section. 8. 185 186 Clause 1: The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, 187 Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the 188 common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all 189 Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United 190 States; 191 192 Clause 2: To borrow Money on the credit of the United States; 193 194 Clause 3: To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the 195 several States, and with the Indian Tribes; 196 197 Clause 4: To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform 198 Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States; 199 200 Clause 5: To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign 201 Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures; 202 203 Clause 6: To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the 204 Securities and current Coin of the United States; 205 206 Clause 7: To establish Post Offices and post Roads; 207 208 Clause 8: To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by 209 securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive 210 Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries; 211 212 Clause 9: To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court; 213 214 Clause 10: To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the 215 high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations; 216 217 Clause 11: To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and 218 make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water; 219 220 Clause 12: To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money 221 to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years; 222 223 Clause 13: To provide and maintain a Navy; 224 225 Clause 14: To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land 226 and naval Forces; 227 228 Clause 15: To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the 229 Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions; 230 231 Clause 16: To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the 232 Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the 233 Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, 234 the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the 235 Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress; 236 237 Clause 17: To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, 238 over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, byCession 239 of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat 240 of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority 241 over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the 242 State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, 243 Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;--And 244 245 Clause 18: To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for 246 carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers 247 vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or 248 in any Department or Officer thereof. 249 250 Section. 9. 251 252 Clause 1: The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the 253 States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be 254 prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight 255 hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such 256 Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person. 257 258 Clause 2: The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be 259 suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public 260 Safety may require it. 261 262 Clause 3: No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed. 263 264 Clause 4: No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in 265 Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be 266 taken. (See Note 7) 267 268 Clause 5: No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any 269 State. 270 271 Clause 6: No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce 272 or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another: nor shall 273 Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or 274 pay Duties in another. 275 276 Clause 7: No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in 277 Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and 278 Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be 279 published from time to time. 280 281 Clause 8: No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: 282 And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, 283 without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, 284 Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or 285 foreign State. 286 287 Section. 10. 288 289 Clause 1: No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or 290 Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit 291 Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in 292 Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or 293 Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of 294 Nobility. 295 296 Clause 2: No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any 297 Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely 298 necessary for executing it's inspection Laws: and the net Produce of 299 all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall 300 be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws 301 shall be subject to the Revision and Controul of the Congress. 302 303 Clause 3: No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any 304 Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter 305 into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign 306 Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent 307 Danger as will not admit of delay. 308 309Article. II. 310 311 Section. 1. 312 313 Clause 1: The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the 314 United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of 315 four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same 316 Term, be elected, as follows 317 318 Clause 2: Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature 319 thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of 320 Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the 321 Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an 322 Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed 323 an Elector. 324 325 Clause 3: The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote 326 by Ballot for two Persons, of whom one at least shall not be an 327 Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And they shall make a 328 List of all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for 329 each; which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to 330 the Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the 331 President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the 332 Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the 333 Certificates, and the Votes shall then be counted. The Person having 334 the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President, if such Number be 335 a Majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed; and if there be 336 more than one who have such Majority, and have an equal Number of 337 Votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately chuse by 338 Ballot one of them for President; and if no Person have a Majority, 339 then from the five highest on the List the said House shall in like 340 Manner chuse the President. But in chusing the President, the Votes 341 shall be taken by States, the Representation from each State having 342 one Vote; A quorum for this Purpose shall consist of a Member or 343 Members from two thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the 344 States shall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice 345 of the President, the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of 346 the Electors shall be the Vice President. But if there should remain 347 two or more who have equal Votes, the Senate shall chuse from them by 348 Ballot the Vice President. (See Note 8) 349 350 Clause 4: The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors, 351 and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be 352 the same throughout the United States. 353 354 Clause 5: No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the 355 United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall 356 be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be 357 eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of 358 thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the 359 United States. 360 361 Clause 6: In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of 362 his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and 363 Duties of the said Office, (See Note 9) the Same shall devolve on the 364 VicePresident, and the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of 365 Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and 366 Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, 367 and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be 368 removed, or a President shall be elected. 369 370 Clause 7: The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his 371 Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be encreased nor 372 diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and 373 he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the 374 United States, or any of them. 375 376 Clause 8: Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall 377 take the following Oath or Affirmation:--"I do solemnly swear (or 378 affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the 379 United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect 380 and defend the Constitution of the United States." 381 382 Section. 2. 383 384 Clause 1: The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and 385 Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, 386 when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may 387 require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of 388 the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of 389 their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves 390 and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of 391 Impeachment. 392 393 Clause 2: He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of 394 the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators 395 present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and 396 Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public 397 Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other 398 Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein 399 otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the 400 Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as 401 they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in 402 the Heads of Departments. 403 404 Clause 3: The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that 405 may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions 406 which shall expire at the End of their next Session. 407 408 Section. 3. 409 410 He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the 411 State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures 412 as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary 413 Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of 414 Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he 415 may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall 416 receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care 417 that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the 418 Officers of the United States. 419 420 Section. 4. 421 422 The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United 423 States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and 424 Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and 425 Misdemeanors. 426 427Article. III. 428 429 Section. 1. 430 431 The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one 432 supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from 433 time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and 434 inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and 435 shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, 436 which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office. 437 438 Section. 2. 439 440 Clause 1: The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and 441 Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United 442 States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their 443 Authority;--to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers 444 and Consuls;--to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;--to 445 Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party;--to 446 Controversies between two or more States;--between a State and 447 Citizens of another State; (See Note 10)--between Citizens of 448 different States, --between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands 449 under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens 450 thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects. 451 452 Clause 2: In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers 453 and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme 454 Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before 455 mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both 456 as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations 457 as the Congress shall make. 458 459 Clause 3: The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, 460 shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the 461 said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within 462 any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress 463 may by Law have directed. 464 465 Section. 3. 466 467 Clause 1: Treason against the United States, shall consist only in 468 levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them 469 Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the 470 Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in 471 open Court. 472 473 Clause 2: The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of 474 Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, 475 or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted. 476 477Article. IV. 478 479 Section. 1. 480 481 Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, 482 Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the 483 Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, 484 Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof. 485 486 Section. 2. 487 488 Clause 1: The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all 489 Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. 490 491 Clause 2: A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other 492 Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another State, 493 shall on Demand of the executive Authority of the State from which he 494 fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction 495 of the Crime. 496 497 Clause 3: No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the 498 Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law 499 or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but 500 shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or 501 Labour may be due. (See Note 11) 502 503 Section. 3. 504 505 Clause 1: New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; 506 but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of 507 any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or 508 more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the 509 Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress. 510 511 Clause 2: The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all 512 needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other 513 Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this 514 Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the 515 United States, or of any particular State. 516 517 Section. 4. 518 519 The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a 520 Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against 521 Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive 522 (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence. 523 524Article. V. 525 526 The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it 527 necessary, shall propose [1]Amendments to this Constitution, or, on 528 the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several 529 States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in 530 either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of 531 this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths 532 of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as 533 the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the 534 Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the 535 Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect 536 the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first 537 Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of 538 its equal Suffrage in the Senate. 539 540Article. VI. 541 542 Clause 1: All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before 543 the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the 544 United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation. 545 546 Clause 2: This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which 547 shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which 548 shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the 549 supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound 550 thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the 551 Contrary notwithstanding. 552 553 Clause 3: The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the 554 Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and 555 judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several 556 States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this 557 Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a 558 Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States. 559 560Article. VII. 561 562 The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be 563 sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the 564 States so ratifying the Same. 565 566 done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the 567 Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand 568 seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United 569 States of America the Twelfth In witness whereof We have hereunto 570 subscribed our Names, 571 572 GO WASHINGTON--Presidt. and deputy from Virginia 573 574 [Signed also by the deputies of twelve States.] 575 576 Delaware 577 578 Geo: Read 579 Gunning Bedford jun 580 John Dickinson 581 Richard Bassett 582 Jaco: Broom 583 584 Maryland 585 586 James MCHenry 587 Dan of ST ThoS. Jenifer 588 DanL Carroll. 589 590 Virginia 591 592 John Blair-- 593 James Madison Jr. 594 595 North Carolina 596 597 WM Blount 598 RichD. Dobbs Spaight. 599 Hu Williamson 600 601 South Carolina 602 603 J. Rutledge 604 Charles 1ACotesworth Pinckney 605 Charles Pinckney 606 Pierce Butler. 607 608 Georgia 609 610 William Few 611 Abr Baldwin 612 613 New Hampshire 614 615 John Langdon 616 Nicholas Gilman 617 618 Massachusetts 619 620 Nathaniel Gorham 621 Rufus King 622 623 Connecticut 624 WM. SamL. Johnson 625 Roger Sherman 626 627 New York 628 629 Alexander Hamilton 630 631 New Jersey 632 633 Wil: Livingston 634 David Brearley. 635 WM. Paterson. 636 Jona: Dayton 637 638 Pennsylvania 639 640 B Franklin 641 Thomas Mifflin 642 RobT Morris 643 Geo. Clymer 644 ThoS. FitzSimons 645 Jared Ingersoll 646 James Wilson. 647 Gouv Morris 648 649 Attest William Jackson Secretary 650 651 NOTES 652 653 Note 1: This text of the Constitution follows the engrossed copy 654 signed by Gen. Washington and the deputies from 12 States. The small 655 superior figures preceding the paragraphs designate Clauses, and were 656 not in the original and have no reference to footnotes. 657 658 The Constitution was adopted by a convention of the States on 659 September 17, 1787, and was subsequently ratified by the several 660 States, on the following dates: Delaware, December 7, 1787; 661 Pennsylvania, December 12, 1787; New Jersey, December 18, 1787; 662 Georgia, January 2, 1788; Connecticut, January 9, 1788; Massachusetts, 663 February 6, 1788; Maryland, April 28, 1788; South Carolina, May 23, 664 1788; New Hampshire, June 21, 1788. 665 666 Ratification was completed on June 21, 1788. 667 668 The Constitution was subsequently ratified by Virginia, June 25, 1788; 669 New York, July 26, 1788; North Carolina, November 21, 1789; Rhode 670 Island, May 29, 1790; and Vermont, January 10, 1791. 671 672 In May 1785, a committee of Congress made a report recommending an 673 alteration in the Articles of Confederation, but no action was taken 674 on it, and it was left to the State Legislatures to proceed in the 675 matter. In January 1786, the Legislature of Virginia passed a 676 resolution providing for the appointment of five commissioners, who, 677 or any three of them, should meet such commissioners as might be 678 appointed in the other States of the Union, at a time and place to be 679 agreed upon, to take into consideration the trade of the United 680 States; to consider how far a uniform system in their commercial 681 regulations may be necessary to their common interest and their 682 permanent harmony; and to report to the several States such an act, 683 relative to this great object, as, when ratified by them, will enable 684 the United States in Congress effectually to provide for the same. The 685 Virginia commissioners, after some correspondence, fixed the first 686 Monday in September as the time, and the city of Annapolis as the 687 place for the meeting, but only four other States were represented, 688 viz: Delaware, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania; the 689 commissioners appointed by Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North 690 Carolina, and Rhode Island failed to attend. Under the circumstances 691 of so partial a representation, the commissioners present agreed upon 692 a report, (drawn by Mr. Hamilton, of New York,) expressing their 693 unanimous conviction that it might essentially tend to advance the 694 interests of the Union if the States by which they were respectively 695 delegated would concur, and use their endeavors to procure the 696 concurrence of the other States, in the appointment of commissioners 697 to meet at Philadelphia on the Second Monday of May following, to take 698 into consideration the situation of the United States; to devise such 699 further provisions as should appear to them necessary to render the 700 Constitution of the Federal Government adequate to the exigencies of 701 the Union; and to report such an act for that purpose to the United 702 States in Congress assembled as, when agreed to by them and afterwards 703 confirmed by the Legislatures of every State, would effectually 704 provide for the same. 705 706 Congress, on the 21st of February, 1787, adopted a resolution in favor 707 of a convention, and the Legislatures of those States which had not 708 already done so (with the exception of Rhode Island) promptly 709 appointed delegates. On the 25th of May, seven States having convened, 710 George Washington, of Virginia, was unanimously elected President, and 711 the consideration of the proposed constitution was commenced. On the 712 17th of September, 1787, the Constitution as engrossed and agreed upon 713 was signed by all the members present, except Mr. Gerry of 714 Massachusetts, and Messrs. Mason and Randolph, of Virginia. The 715 president of the convention transmitted it to Congress, with a 716 resolution stating how the proposed Federal Government should be put 717 in operation, and an explanatory letter. Congress, on the 28th of 718 September, 1787, directed the Constitution so framed, with the 719 resolutions and letter concerning the same, to "be transmitted to the 720 several Legislatures in order to be submitted to a convention of 721 delegates chosen in each State by the people thereof, in conformity to 722 the resolves of the convention." 723 724 On the 4th of March, 1789, the day which had been fixed for commencing 725 the operations of Government under the new Constitution, it had been 726 ratified by the conventions chosen in each State to consider it, as 727 follows: Delaware, December 7, 1787; Pennsylvania, December 12, 1787; 728 New Jersey, December 18, 1787; Georgia, January 2, 1788; Connecticut, 729 January 9, 1788; Massachusetts, February 6, 1788; Maryland, April 28, 730 1788; South Carolina, May 23, 1788; New Hampshire, June 21, 1788; 731 Virginia, June 25, 1788; and New York, July 26, 1788. 732 733 The President informed Congress, on the 28th of January, 1790, that 734 North Carolina had ratified the Constitution November 21, 1789; and he 735 informed Congress on the 1st of June, 1790, that Rhode Island had 736 ratified the Constitution May 29, 1790. Vermont, in convention, 737 ratified the Constitution January 10, 1791, and was, by an act of 738 Congress approved February 18, 1791, "received and admitted into this 739 Union as a new and entire member of the United States." 740 741 Note 2: The part of this Clause relating to the mode of apportionment 742 of representatives among the several States has been affected by 743 Section 2 of amendment XIV, and as to taxes on incomes without 744 apportionment by amendment XVI. 745 746 Note 3: This Clause has been affected by Clause 1 of amendment XVII. 747 748 Note 4: This Clause has been affected by Clause 2 of amendment XVIII. 749 750 Note 5: This Clause has been affected by amendment XX. 751 752 Note 6: This Clause has been affected by amendment XXVII. 753 754 Note 7: This Clause has been affected by amendment XVI. 755 756 Note 8: This Clause has been superseded by amendment XII. 757 758 Note 9: This Clause has been affected by amendment XXV. 759 760 Note 10: This Clause has been affected by amendment XI. 761 762 Note 11: This Clause has been affected by amendment XIII. 763 764 Note 12: The first ten amendments to the Constitution of the United 765 States (and two others, one of which failed of ratification and the 766 other which later became the 27th amendment) were proposed to the 767 legislatures of the several States by the First Congress on September 768 25, 1789. The first ten amendments were ratified by the following 769 States, and the notifications of ratification by the Governors thereof 770 were successively communicated by the President to Congress: New 771 Jersey, November 20, 1789; Maryland, December 19, 1789; North 772 Carolina, December 22, 1789; South Carolina, January 19, 1790; New 773 Hampshire, January 25, 1790; Delaware, January 28, 1790; New York, 774 February 24, 1790; Pennsylvania, March 10, 1790; Rhode Island, June 7, 775 1790; Vermont, November 3, 1791; and Virginia, December 15, 1791. 776 777 Ratification was completed on December 15, 1791. 778 779 The amendments were subsequently ratified by the legislatures of 780 Massachusetts, March 2, 1939; Georgia, March 18, 1939; and 781 Connecticut, April 19, 1939. 782 783 Note 13: Only the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th articles of amendment had 784 numbers assigned to them at the time of ratification. 785 786 Note 14: This sentence has been superseded by section 3 of amendment 787 XX. 788 789 Note 15: See amendment XIX and section 1 of amendment XXVI. 790 791 Note 16: Repealed by section 1 of amendment XXI. 792 793References 794 795 1. http://www.house.gov/Constitution/Amend.html 796